NK cell abnormality and its treatment in women with reproductive failures such as recurrent pregnancy loss, implantation failures, preeclampsia, and pelvic endometriosis
Abstract
The regulation of uterine and peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells has been associated with problems related to reproductive immunology such as recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), implantation failure or preeclampsia. NKp46, one of the natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs), is a unique marker that functions in NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokine production. Expression of NKp46 on NK cells is lower in women with recurrent pregnancy loss and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Moreover, expression of NKp46 on peritoneal fluid NK cells is lower in women with pelvic endometriosis. Therefore, evaluation o...
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - April 11, 2015 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Declining semen quality and steadying seminal plasma ions in heat-stressed boar model
Conclusions
A single 3-day heat exposure caused poor semen quality, but did not disturb accessory sex gland secretion in boars. Declining semen quality might be mainly due to the damaged germ cells, which were sensitive to elevated temperature in hot summer months. (Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology)
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - March 29, 2015 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Insulin resistance in nonobese Japanese women with polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with poorer glucose tolerance, delayed insulin secretion, and enhanced insulin response
Conclusions
All examined metabolic parameters were significantly correlated with BMI. As the presence of a continuous increase of insulin level reflects to some degree poorer glucose tolerance, delayed insulin secretion, and enhanced insulin response compared with non-continuous insulin increase, OGTT might not been excluded to determine IR and IGT for nonobese women with PCOS. (Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology)
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - March 19, 2015 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
In vitro fertilization embryo development from caffeine-treated murine sperm
Conclusions
Caffeine treatment affected body weight of male mice. However, testicular weight, histological features and total blood testosterone concentration were not statistically different. In addition, following IVF using sperm from these mice, blastocyst formation decreased in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that embryo development from oocytes fertilized with sperm from caffeine-administered male mice is negatively affected. (Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology)
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - February 26, 2015 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Simple gamete preservation and artificial reproduction of mammals using micro-insemination techniques
Abstract
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been applied in various procedures as an effective breeding method in experimental, domestic, and wild animals, and for the treatment of human infertility. Micro-insemination techniques such as intracytoplasmic injection of spermatozoa and spermatids are now routinely used ART tools. With these techniques, even immotile and immature sperm cells can be employed as donors for producing the next generation. Gamete preservation, another ART tool, has contributed to reproductive regulation, worldwide transportation, and disease protection of animal strains, a...
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - December 17, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibits ovulation and induces granulosa cell death in rat ovaries
Conclusions
Our data indicated that TNFα is an important mediator of ovulation in terms of decreasing the number of released oocytes and inducing granulosa cell death of unruptured follicles via apoptosis and autophagy for remodeling ovarian tissues. (Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology)
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - December 12, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
How are pluripotent cells captured in culture?
This article introduces how pluripotent stem cell lines are established in culture, and how much those cells in vitro are similar or relevant to their in vivo origin and the knowledge about transcription factors to support this state. (Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology)
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - December 3, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Menstrual restoration in severe panhypopituitarism many years after cranial irradiation for suprasellar germinoma
Conclusion
Menstrual restoration is very rare in severe panhypopituitarism after cranial irradiation. A relatively low dose of irradiation and small tumor size may have contributed to the recovery of menstruation in our patient. (Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology)
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - November 28, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Cabergoline administration prevents development of moderate to severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and it contributes to reduction in ovarian volume
Conclusions
Cabergoline has a favorable effect on the prevention of moderate to severe OHSS affiliated with ovarian volume reduction. (Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology)
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - November 10, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Autophagic activity as an indicator for selecting good quality embryos
Abstract
Is it possible to predict the quality of embryos that appear to be morphologically identical when viewed under a microscope? Thirty-five years have passed since the world’s first human birth from in vitro fertilization. While the dissemination of assisted reproduction technologies during this time has been remarkable, the evaluation of embryo quality in both humans and mice currently relies entirely on morphological observation. More efficient infertility treatments will likely be possible if high-quality embryos can be selected by screening. To develop a novel quality evaluation method that do...
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - October 21, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Clomiphene citrate affects the receptivity of the uterine endometrium
Conclusions
A lower PR was shown by the patients who underwent thawed ET in the HRC within 90 days after their last CC treatment, which shows that CC affects the receptivity of the uterine endometrium. (Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology)
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - October 17, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
The role of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPls) in infertile women: the long-lasting experience
This article explains some aspects and clinical and laboratory significance of the aPls in female infertility. (Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology)
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - October 7, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Germ cell specification and pluripotency in mammals: a perspective from early embryogenesis
Abstract
Germ cells are unique cell types that generate a totipotent zygote upon fertilization, giving rise to the next generation in mammals and many other multicellular organisms. How germ cells acquire this ability has been of considerable interest. In mammals, primordial germ cells (PGCs), the precursors of sperm and oocytes, are specified around the time of gastrulation. PGCs are induced by signals from the surrounding extra-embryonic tissues to the equipotent epiblast cells that give rise to all cell types. Currently, the mechanism of PGC specification in mammals is best understood from studies in...
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - October 1, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Role of varicocele repair for male infertility in the era of assisted reproductive technologies
In this study, we performed a comprehensive PubMed search in order to review the current status of varicocele repair for male infertility. We reviewed English-language studies published from 1992 through 2013. After reviewing the articles, we identified a recent meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials, which found that varicocele repair for oligozoospermic men was associated with better pregnancy rates as compared with observation. Our review of prospective studies showed that all semen parameters, including sperm concentration, motility, and progressive motility, were significantly improved after varicocele rep...
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - October 1, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
The association of physiological cortisol and IVF treatment outcomes: a systematic review
Conclusion(s)
Study findings were that the evidence for the role of cortisol in relation to IVF outcomes is currently mixed. Future researchers are encouraged to consider the methodological limitations highlighted in this review and to utilise more robust assessment methods when examining the influence that chronic, rather than acute, stress may have on IVF outcomes. (Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology)
Source: Reproductive Medicine and Biology - October 1, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
